King of Britain, 1727-60. For two centuries after George II's death, history tended to view him with disdain, concentrating on his mistresses, short temper, and boorishness. The English envoy to Hanover, Edmund Poley, reported that George was so taken by "the good character he had of her that he would not think of anybody else". [133] George may not have played a major role in history, but he was influential at times and he upheld constitutional government. The Death of King George II, with a Biographical Note on Dr Frank Nicholls, Physician to the King. [30] The birth in 1717 of George's second son, Prince George William, proved to be a catalyst for a family quarrel; the king, supposedly following custom, appointed Lord Chamberlain Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, as one of the baptismal sponsors of the child. "Lost or strayed out of this house", it read, "a man who has left a wife and six children on the parish. He had a difficult relationship with his eldest son, Frederick, who supported the parliamentary opposition. King of England 1714-27. In November 1744 George bowed to parliamentary pressure and accepted Carteret’s resignation. Consequently, after his grandmother and father, George was third in line to succeed Anne in two of her three realms. 115–116. [23] London was like nothing George had seen before; it was 50 times larger than Hanover,A and the crowd was estimated at up to one and a half million spectators. The prince’s London residence, Leicester House, became the gathering place for a dissident Whig group headed by Walpole and Viscount Charles Townshend. [4], George spoke only French, the language of diplomacy and the court, until the age of four, after which he was taught German by one of his tutors, Johann Hilmar Holstein. [74] Henrietta Howard, later Countess of Suffolk, had moved to Hanover with her husband during the reign of Queen Anne,[75] and had been one of Caroline's women of the bedchamber. [138], When George became Prince of Wales in 1714, he was granted the royal arms with an inescutcheon of gules plain in the Hanoverian quarter differenced overall by a label of three points argent. Thompson, p. 57; Trench, pp. [64], In May 1736, George returned to Hanover, which resulted in unpopularity in England; a satirical notice was even pinned to the gates of St James's Palace decrying his absence. By the start of July Pitt was recalled, and Newcastle returned as prime minister. Walpole attempted to buy off the prince with the promise of an increased allowance and offered to pay off his debts, but Frederick refused. The Death of King George III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of Hanover, after a reign of 59 years, 96 days (the longest reign at the time). [87] Though his actions in the battle were admired, the war became unpopular with the British public, who felt that the king and Carteret were subordinating British interests to Hanoverian ones. George donated the royal library to the British Museum in 1757, four years after the museum's foundation. [45] The power of the Whigs was so great that the Tories would not come to hold power for another half-century. Hervey's Memoirs, vol. [103] Fearing a French invasion of Hanover, George aligned himself with Prussia (ruled by his nephew, Frederick the Great), Austria's enemy. Smith, Hannah (2005) "The Court in England, 1714–1760: A Declining Political Institution? She was his mistress from before the accession of George I until November 1734. Trench, p. 185–187; Van der Kiste, p. 152. Both British and Hanoverian ministers considered the will unlawful, as George I did not have the legal power to determine the succession personally. King George II. His grandfather, George II, was very distant from George, and outright disliked Frederick. George II, in full George Augustus, German Georg August, also called (1706–27) marquess and duke of Cambridge, (born November 10 [October 30, Old Style], 1683, Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover—died October 25, 1760, London), king of Great Britain and elector of Hanover from 1727 to 1760. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 118, 126, 139. In 1757 Hanover was invaded and George gave Cumberland full powers to conclude a separate peace,[106] but by September he was furious at Cumberland's negotiated settlement, which he felt greatly favoured the French. As George was a peer of the realm (as Duke of Cambridge), it was suggested that he be summoned to Parliament to sit in the House of Lords. Stuart was the son of James II, who had been deposed in 1688 and replaced by his Protestant relations. The official announcement from Sandringham, given at 1045 GMT, said the King retired in his usual health, but passed away in his sleep and was found dead in bed at 0730 GMT by a … Omissions? ", This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 22:53. However, controversy surrounding his death surfaced a few decades ago when the diary of his lead attending physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, was revealed. [99] As her son would not reach the age of majority until 1756, a new British Regency Act was passed to make her regent, assisted by a council led by the Duke of Cumberland, in case of George II's death. [72] On her deathbed she told her sobbing husband to remarry, to which he replied, "Non, j'aurai des maîtresses!" [17] Between 1709 and 1713 George and Caroline had three more children, all girls: Anne, Amelia, and Caroline. British royalty who succeeded his grandfather, George II. "[65] The king made plans to return in the face of inclement December weather; when his ship was caught in a storm, gossip swept London that he had drowned. [91] In February 1746, Pelham and his followers resigned. [77] Britain's conflict with Spain, the War of Jenkins' Ear, became part of the War of the Austrian Succession when a major European dispute broke out upon the death of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1740. [107] George said his son had "ruined me and disgraced himself". By 1742 these dissidents were strong enough to force Walpole to resign. During the last decade of his life George took little interest in politics. Thompson, pp. George was born in the city of Hanover in Germany, followed by his sister, Sophia Dorothea, three years later. [104] In April the following year George dismissed Pitt in an attempt to construct an administration more to his liking. [100] The king also made a new will, which provided for Cumberland to be sole regent in Hanover. George II quickly found another mentor in John Carteret (later Earl Granville), whose haughty ways proved unpopular in political circles. Hostility between France and Britain, particularly over the colonization of North America, continued. Negotiations for a marriage between the Prince of Wales and Frederick William's daughter Wilhelmine dragged on for years but neither side would make the concessions demanded by the other, and the idea was shelved. [73] It was common knowledge that George had already had mistresses during his marriage, and he had kept Caroline informed about them. [95] The War of the Austrian Succession continued until 1748, when Maria Theresa was recognized as Archduchess of Austria. George VI served as king of the United Kingdom during World War II and was an important symbolic leader. By 1717 George I and his son, who had for years detested each other, were quarrelling openly. Walpole won acknowledgment of George’s legitimacy from many influential Tories who had been Jacobites—supporters of the exiled Stuart pretender to the English throne. The king was angered when George, who disliked Newcastle, verbally insulted the duke at the christening, which the duke misunderstood as a challenge to a duel.B George and Caroline were temporarily confined to their apartments on the order of the king, who subsequently banished his son from St James's Palace, the king's residence. Birthplace: Hanover, Germany Location of death: Osnabrück, Germany Cause of death: Stroke . [58] A truce was agreed in the Anglo-Spanish War, and George unsuccessfully pressed Walpole to join the War of the Polish Succession on the side of the German states. George Augustus was the only son of the German prince George Louis, elector of Hanover (King George I of Great Britain from 1714 to 1727), and Sophia Dorothea of Celle. In June Lord Waldegrave held the seals of office for only four days. (1966) "Early Hanoverian England (1714–1760): Some Recent Writings" in Elizabeth Chapin Furber, ed. [94] On 16/27 April 1746, Charles faced George's military-minded son Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, in the Battle of Culloden, the last pitched battle fought on British soil. Although he possessed sound political judgment, his lack of self-confidence caused him to rely heavily on his ministers, most notable of whom was Sir Robert Walpole. 1 August 1714 (O.S.) [24] George courted popularity with voluble expressions of praise for the English, and claimed that he had no drop of blood that was not English. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [26] He made a royal progress through Chichester, Havant, Portsmouth, and Guildford in southern England. – 27 September 1714 (O.S. If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. I know I did not love my children when they were young: I hated to have them running into my room; but now I love them as well as most fathers. [60], George II's relationship with his son Frederick, Prince of Wales, worsened during the 1730s. [11] A marriage contract was concluded by the end of July. At issue was the right of Charles's daughter, Maria Theresa, to succeed to his Austrian dominions. Although King George died tragically young, his death gave rise to the longest reign in British monarchal history. [90] The king disliked Pitt because he had previously opposed government policy and attacked measures seen as pro-Hanoverian. 153–154. [105], George's son, the Duke of Cumberland, commanded the king's troops in northern Germany. "[102], In 1754 Pelham died, to be succeeded by his elder brother, the Duke of Newcastle. [139], Caroline's ten pregnancies resulted in eight live births. The tepid reconciliation that took place between George I and the prince in 1720 led to the inclusion of Walpole in George I’s administration, and Walpole lost the prince’s favour when he became one of George I’s leading ministers. The Prince of Wales put it about that the king was dying, with the result that George insisted on getting up and attending a social event to disprove the gossip-mongers. Nevertheless, opposition to George and Walpole grew as the pattern of George I’s reign repeated itself: George II and his son Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, quarrelled, and the prince became a leader of an antiadministration faction. He grew up in Hanover and married (1705) the beautiful and intelligent Caroline of Ansbach. [119] He had no interest in reading,[120] or in the arts and sciences, and preferred to spend his leisure hours stag-hunting on horseback or playing cards. His eldest son George was automatically Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, and Earl of Carrick. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He served as the Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin, between 1716 and 1727; and in 1754 issued the charter for King's College in New York City, which later became Columbia University. Within the year both Sophia and Anne were dead, and George's father was king. King George V rides with Kaiser Wilhelm II in the grounds of the Potsdam Palace circa 1913. [128] He was often able to prevent the appointment of ministers or commanders he disliked, or sideline them into lesser offices. [67], When the Prince of Wales applied to Parliament for an increase in his allowance, an open quarrel broke out. [12] On 22 August / 2 September 1705O.S./N.S. Learn more about George II’s life and reign in this article. [131] Lord Charlemont excused George's short temper by explaining that sincerity of feeling is better than deception, "His temper was warm and impetuous, but he was good-natured and sincere. until his death in 1760. The last time a British monarch commanded troops in the field. [54] Compton was ennobled as Lord Wilmington the following year. Without conferring with his British ministers, George stationed them in Hanover to prevent enemy French troops from marching into the electorate. He displayed courage while fighting the French at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743—the last time a British king appeared on the battlefield—and he organized each day with the precision of a drill sergeant. The Jacobites failed to gain further support, and the French reneged on a promise of help. [71], Soon afterwards, George's wife Caroline died on 20 November 1737 (O.S.). The king, who had a reputation for meanness,[68] offered a private settlement, which Frederick rejected. [63] Instead, the prince married Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha in April 1736. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-II-king-of-Great-Britain, Undiscovered Scotland - Biography of George II, British Broadcasting Corporation - Biography of George II, English Monarchs - Biography of George II, George II - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), George II - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 182–184; Van der Kiste, pp. – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death in 1760.. George is the most recent British monarch born outside Great Britain: he was born and brought up in northern Germany. Jacobitism was all but crushed; no further serious attempt was made at restoring the House of Stuart. [19] George did not go. [38], The king visited Hanover again from May to November 1719. He was naturalized as an English subject in 1705 by the Sophia Naturalization Act, and in 1706 he was made a Knight of the Garter and created Duke and Marquess of Cambridge, Earl of Milford Haven, Viscount Northallerton, and Baron Tewkesbury in the Peerage of England. Johann Ludwig was born while Amalie was still married to her husband, and George did not acknowledge him publicly as his own son. J Keith Ross. In July 1745, the Old Pretender's son, Charles Edward Stuart, popularly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender, landed in Scotland, where support for his cause was highest. Trench, pp. [86] An allied force of Austrian, British, Dutch, Hanoverian and Hessian troops engaged the French at the Battle of Dettingen on 16/27 June 1743. Two prior rebellions in 1715 and 1719 had failed. Unskilled in the royal talent of dissimulation, he always was what he appeared to be. [14] In July Caroline fell seriously ill with smallpox, and George caught the infection after staying by her side devotedly during her illness. Public disquiet over British failures at the start of the conflict led to Newcastle's resignation and the appointment of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, as prime minister and William Pitt the Elder as Secretary of State for the Southern Department. George III became heir to the throne on the death of his father in 1751, succeeding his grandfather, George II, in 1760. Bultmann, William A. (French for "No, I shall have mistresses!"). They had three more children: William, Mary, and Louisa, who were brought up at Leicester House and Richmond Lodge, George's summer residence. (1895–1952) Pelham returned to office triumphant, and George was forced to appoint Pitt to the ministry. At the age of nearly 77 he had lived longer than any of his English or British predecessors. [48] Critics supposed that George II hid the will to avoid paying out his father's legacies. During the War of the Austrian Succession, George participated at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, and thus became the last British monarch to lead an army in battle. As king, he used the royal arms as used by his father undifferenced. AKA Georg August. [44] Walpole and his Whig Party were dominant in politics, as the king feared that the Tories would not support the succession laid down in the Act of Settlement. The new king decided not to travel to Germany for his father's funeral, which far from bringing criticism led to praise from the English who considered it proof of his fondness for England. [49], George II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 11/22 October 1727. 289–290; Van der Kiste, p. 213. Trench, pp. The prince, upon his accession as George II, would have dismissed Walpole from office had not Caroline intervened on the minister’s behalf. He was succeeded by his eldest son, who became. 88–90; Van der Kiste, pp. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Losing morale, the Jacobites retreated back into Scotland. 72–74. After a few minutes, his valet heard a loud crash and entered the room to find the king on the floor;[114] his physician, Frank Nicholls, recorded that he "appeared to have just come from his necessary-stool, and as if going to open his escritoire".[115]. In 1708 George participated in the Battle of Oudenarde in the vanguard of the Hanoverian cavalry; his horse and a colonel immediately beside him were killed, but George survived unharmed. George III was hard working but emotionally unstable, suffering spells of men… [101] After the death of his daughter Louisa at the end of the year, George lamented, "This has been a fatal year for my family. Upon the accession of his father to the English throne he was designated prince of Wales. He was the son of HRH Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, (born 2/10/1706 in Hanover; died 3/20/1751 NS). King George V died 82 years ago of lung disease. Frederick died unexpectedly in 1751, nine years before his father, so George II was ultimately succeeded by his grandson, George III. [3] She was confined to Ahlden House and denied access to her two children, who probably never saw their mother again. [89], Tension grew between the Pelham ministry and George, as he continued to take advice from Carteret and rejected pressure from his other ministers to include William Pitt the Elder in the Cabinet, which would have broadened the government's support base. His cousin King George V offered Nicholas II refuge, but then unexpectedly withdrew the offer - and later tried to cover up the fact. In 1760, 20-year-old George succeeded his grandfather, George II, as king of Great Britain and Ireland. [76], Against Walpole's wishes, but to George's delight, Britain reopened hostilities with Spain in 1739. She had no surviving children, and by the Act of Settlement 1701, the English Parliament designated Anne's closest Protestant blood relatives, George's grandmother Sophia and her descendants, as Anne's heirs in England and Ireland. The king was lifted into his bed, and Princess Amelia was sent for; before she reached him, he was dead.